Appearances

Contents

As a child, Vaughan was the pampered but little regarded son of the arl. Urien was distant, and as a result gave the young noble whatever he wanted to keep him occupied.

As a result of this indulgence, as well as a circle of sycophantic friends--such as young lords Jonaley and Braden--Vaughan grew to manhood with no check on his desires, whims or cruel impulses. While he could be charming and pleasant in order to get something he wanted, he was very cruel to those he felt were less: servants, and especially elven servants. Though he played sadistic tricks on human serving girls, he preyed upon elves specifically, seeing them as "rats" and vermin, and delighting in the long-ago destruction of their empire. Other members of the Kendells household attempted to protect the arl's elven servants, but sometimes to little avail.[1]

“Dying while in the company of a lovely seductress... tell me that isn't a good death.” — LelianaThis article contains spoilers for Leliana's Song. Click here to reveal them.

Vaughan is briefly heard but not seen. A servant tries to warn Vaughan about a strange noise she heard in the hallway (Leliana and her party when they infiltrate the Arl of Denerim's Estate) but he only strikes her for speaking out of turn. Tug will comment that the boy "will grow up to be something special one day."

Before the City ElfWarden's wedding, Vaughan comes to the Alienage with his lackeys to prey on the elven women. While he is speaking to the Warden, Shianni knocks him out with a bottle. Vaughan later returns with armed guards during the wedding ceremony and kidnaps the brides (including the player character, if female) and the bridesmaids, including Shianni.

When The Warden comes to rescue the women, Vaughan will be found standing over Shianni but tries to talk himself out of a fight by offering a 40 bribe to the player if they leave, with the women being returned to the Alienage the next morning. If the player rejects this deal, they must fight and kill Vaughan and his lackeys, Braden and Jonaley. If the player accepts the deal, Vaughan will send soldiers to the Alienage to arrest both the Warden and Soris regardless.

If Vaughan is alive, he will be met (for a second time if playing as a City Elf who took his deal) in the Arl of Denerim's Estate - Dungeon. Vaughan has been imprisoned by Arl Howe, who officially came to Denerim in the wake of the Battle of Ostagar, which claimed the life of Vaughan's father, Arl Urien, to reinforce the garrison. Unofficially, Howe quickly locked Vaughan in the dungeons of his own palace and usurped his position as Arl of Denerim, announcing that Vaughan had tragically become "one more victim of the elven uprising." He begs for his life, offering in exchange his vote in the Landsmeetor the key to his locked chest, which contains 40. With high enough Coercion it is possible to convince Vaughan to give you the key to his locked chest without releasing him from his cell. Vaughan may then be freed, left in his cell or killed.

If the Warden is a City Elf who previously accepted Vaughan's bribe, Vaughan will recognize them and be insulting and demanding towards them despite the fact that he is asking to be released. The Warden can remind Vaughan that he crossed them the last time they made a deal, but the imprisoned noble will claim that his offer is now genuine considering his current state. As with Wardens of other Origins, a City Elf can demand money or political support, but they can also demand that Vaughan repent for his sins by joining the Chantry. Vaughan can agree to this demand; however, it is not known if he actually does it or goes back on his word again.

Quotes

"Ha! If you want to dress up your pets and have tea parties, that's your business, but don't pretend this is a proper wedding. Now we're here for a good time, aren't we boys?" (at the City Elf's wedding).

"Get back here you knife-eared whore!" (to a female elven Warden)

"The Warden! I'm with The Warden!" (if restored to his position of power during The Landsmeet)

(Regarding the destruction of Elvhenan): "We don't allow rats to thrive and call their warrens a city."[2]

Gallery

Bugs

If Vaughan is not in the Landsmeet to support the Warden, he can still be seen in the chamber when the Warden will select their champion, even if he was killed in the past. However this time he will be wearing commoner clothing.

pcxbox360Vaughan's lockbox will sometimes not be available to open even if you got the key from him, as of version 1.04. The cause appears to be leaving the dungeon before speaking to Vaughan, then going back and talking to him. The only known way to avoid this glitch is to remember not to leave the dungeon before getting the key.

Bug!xbox360Clicking on Vaughan first before the cell door may make it impossible to free him. The door will begin giving the same brief comment as clicking on Vaughan directly (the door remains locked). Reloading before clicking on Vaughan first may be required, although you can sometimes switch to another party member and have them successfully open the door. Alternatively, heading to the right and unlocking Irminric's cell door (thus initiating the conversation sequence with him) seems to allow for another shot at unlocking Vaughan's cell.